Bruins know their 0-3 start hasn't affected their chance to compete for a Pac-12 Conference title.

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UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, right, jogs off the field during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 48-14 loss to fifth-ranked Oklahoma at the Rose Bowl. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

LOS ANGELES — UCLA has an opportunity to hit the reset button and move forward from a rough 0-3 start to the season with its Pac-12 Conference opener on Saturday night at Washington State.

“That’s how we’re pretty much looking at it,” quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said. “We’re going into conference play now, we’re playing for a conference title and a Pac-12 championship, so our mindset going in, the record’s 0-0.”

With that approach, the Bruins will apply what they learned from their 48-14 loss to quarterback Jalen Hurts and fifth-ranked Oklahoma to this week’s game plan.

“We’re pretty much going to see the same defense (from Washington State) we saw against Oklahoma,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I think we’ll be more comfortable with the looks … but I think they’ll add in a few wrinkles that we have to be prepared for.”

Along with a positive outlook about conference play, UCLA’s confidence remains unfazed despite being winless.

“We can do it. I believe in it too,” offensive lineman Boss Tagaloa said. “Everybody’s still out here working, you see there’s nobody hanging their heads. That’s a lot of stuff that we emphasize as a team, just keeping your head up no matter what, next-play mentality.”

What has changed is the intensity displayed during practice.

“The coaches really picked up their intensity in terms of wanting stuff right and pushing us more,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I would just say their tolerance level for things at practice … they want everything perfect now instead of letting things slide.”

That same intensity was on display from defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, whose voice was heard across the field during the early portion of Wednesday’s practice. The redshirt junior was shouting for members of the defense to watch Atonio Mafi’s technique as he lined up in front of the sled bag for a drill.

Defensively, Coach Chip Kelly answered several questions regarding what he expects and might be concerned about when it comes to the Cougars and Coach Mike Leach’s pass-heavy offense, which is averaging 476 passing yards per game.

“I just think Mike’s dedicated to throwing the football,” Kelly said. “He is going to throw it no matter what.

“They’ve done it for so long that they can make adjustments to whatever they see. I’m sure in Mike’s career he has been defended every which way. He has seen it all and has the answers to it all.”

Linebacker Josh Woods and the UCLA defense have embraced the challenge of taking on another productive offense.

“They do it well,” Woods said. “We’re excited to see it.”

While the Bruins might be excited about the test, it will be coordinator Jerry Azzinaro and his defensive staff who will be tasked with putting defenders in the right situations to limit quarterback Anthony Gordon and the Air Raid.

“Last week versus Oklahoma, we were down a lot in the first half and then in the second half we came out and showed we could still hang with them and we never gave up.”

EMOTIONAL TRIP TO PULLMAN

“Pullman will always have a special place in my heart because of Tyler,” said UCLA LB Josh Woods (@_WOODSY_J) about his return to Washington State, where his @UplandFootball teammate Tyler Hilinski played in college.

Both Woods and Hilinski played football at Upland High and took their official visit to Washington State together.

“I remember how much Tyler loved Pullman when we took our official together,” Woods tweeted after practice. “I love and miss you big Ty.”

Hilinski, a former Cougars quarterback committed suicide on Jan. 16, 2018 in his apartment in Pullman. An autopsy revealed that he had stage one chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

INJURY REPORT

Linebacker Krys Barnes participated in individual drills with full pads and a knee brace on his injured right knee during media availability. Receiver Theo Howard and safety Quentin Lake were not seen at practice during media availability. Howard is dealing with a hand injury. Lake has an undisclosed injury and was not at practice for a second consecutive day. Offensive lineman Michael Alves also missed practice as he continues to deal with back issues.

James H. Williams joined the Southern California News Group in 2013 with a passion for sports, social media and journalism that has led to his role as a Digital Sports Producer. During his down time, he finds himself on social media providing scores and stats on local and professional sports. When he is out at a game, he can be found roaming the sidelines and the snack bar at halftime.

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